Automobile heater



1933' F. B. HANCHETT. JR

AUTOMOBILE HEATER Filed Oct. 30. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l n 1% .0 Z 6 a Ma5 a m n 0 Mn M 4 ma 0 a w 6 .2 A 1 a E 4 3 9 m F 1933. F. B. HANCHETT,JR 1,923,434

AUTOMOB ILE HEATER Filed Oct. 30, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TORNEY6Patented Aug. 22, 1933 V 1,923,484

iiES i i 1,923,484 AUTOMOBILE nea'rna Fred B. Hanchett, Jn,noyaroanmten.

Application October 30, 1930. Serial No, 492,19? 14 claims. (Cl.257--2i1) The heater comprising the present invention is thrown rearwardly,so-that the air in leaving the of the type which receives fresh air asit is drawn fan at a slightly increased rate of fan speed is a throughth radiator of an automobile by the distributed in the path of a cone ofobtuse angufan and by the forward motion of the motor velarity. As thespeed of the vehicle is gradually hicle upon which it is installed. Theair thus increased, the angularity or" this conev of dis- 60 a receivedis passed over a heated surface in such a trihuted air, decreased untilat high -vehicle speed, way as to receive heat therefrom, This heatedmost of the air is thrown rearwardly of the fan in is then distributedin the lJaSsfil-lg'er C pe an axial direction as though the'fan wereenment of the vehicle. The exhaust-manifold of a cased Within a windtunnel. The present invenmotor Vehicle being an excellent source of heattion has taken advantage of this phenomena of 6 and being ead yacflessible as l n s n v t d wind distribution from a fan; Acollectinghead the attention and ingenuity of inventors and has'loeenprovided'which is designed to receive ny p fi inVOlVillg the pifinciplesthe full blast of air issuing from an'area of the heat transfer havebeen directed toward this fan to which it is, exposed, regardless of thedi- 5 source of heat. Likewise, the engine fan being. oti of ir flowfrom the tan, The head 70 ksJitKated as it is in an accessible positiondirectly comprising the present invention may be. ,em-,

9 ind the radiator, has p a smll'ce 0f ployed as anattachmentforany ofthe heaters fresh air for these experiments and, at the presf thi type,or it may be employed as a built-in ent time, there are numerous deviceswhich seek nit i a heater construction, but in either case to obtain airfrom this source and heat the same th nti l featuresof the invention arepre'- 75 by direct contact with the exhaust manifold, As e d;

a general rule, it has been discovered that at high In t b mg twg"shegtgof d i traveling speed, these devices will operate satisforming a t of tspecification several factolfly and @411 Passing through the fanbodiments of the improved heater funnel have will be blown directly intothe funnel-shaped been Shown and in {hese drawingsz- 80 opening usuallyprovided for thesanie, and will Figs. 2 are from and rear perspective becarried past the exhaust manifold into the in- Views, respectively, fthe fe red f rm f tefior the It is 1 35 F' Y f W at heater collectinghead, In these" two views cerig sg i i tgg g gg gfigg gi tain partshaveheer: broken away to more clearly S5 The practicabi iti: of these dv ces: must neces reveal nab-G118 0L mventlon' sarily-denend alone upontheinalai tyto heat the 3 515118 elemfwn of a motor Vehlcle en interiorof the car as ra idly as po s ih eafte1'the Showing me preiermd' farm ofheater asoccupants of the car are seated espe- 1y i q a i cially incities where traffic is heavy, the operator 4 1s rear m of me prefgredof a motor vehicle seldom has the opportunity Peateahead showmg wpmp.er1y.p0s1 or inclination to enter his car and travel to his f W$651360? to fan from whlch destination at a high rate of'speed, devicesof f au -culrents I this nature have not given good satisfaction. 5 1Sback View Showing modlfieli 40 The dissatisfaction that has beenattendant upon lpqunded type of heater properly posltloned devices ofthis nature has given rise to this in- W T651960? o j vention, andaccordingly the paramount object 51s a partlally broken end view of Fig.5. of the present invention is to provide a heater 7 'fi takensubstantlally which at all times receives the full benefit of the along11116 -7 l? air blast from that portion of the fan to which 8 i3663191131 View taken Substantlany it is exposed, regardless of thespeed ofrotation f F- the lme i 3 g of the fan or the speed or" travelof the motor Fig? and 31m respemjlvely from and F Vehicle. 1 perspectiveviews of a still further .mod1fied Actual windage experiments havedemonstratform 0f 1195561 cflllilc'fiillg hefld- 50 ed that the airdrawn into and distributed by a s 11 i a r r l v p li y of the 9 fanrotating at low speed whirls, for the most heatter hgadstihown i1; Figs,9 and lg p gn part, aroundpthe fan rather than being blown 1998110118P659691 10 an 3 01110 1 6 an. rearwardly as is the general supposit on;Asthe g- 12 s 36351012211 ViBW WbStaHtifiJlY rate of speed of thevehicle is increased, less or" 1 g the line -1 Of Fig. l1, and I thisair follows around with the fan and more is Fig; 13 is a side elevationof a motor vehicle engine showing a heater assembly employing a numberof heater collecting heads.

In all of the above described views like characters of reference areemployed to designate like parts throughout. 7

In the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the heatercollecting head is generally in the form of a rectangular, box-likestructure formed of light sheet material having a rear wall 1G, and sidewalls 12. One end of the structure is closed by means of inclined wallsl4'giving this end of the structure a pyramidal appearance. Thestructure is open on one side and a narrow wall 16 extends across thetop of the structure between the two sides 12 on the open side of thestructure. This wall, together with the closures 14, forms a hood thatcatches and retains the air which is forced into the structure. A baffle18 also formed of light sheet material extends between the walls 12 andthis bafiie has its lower edge extending across the front of thestructure at? its lower extremity. The baffle is inclined inwardly andupwardly of the structure and terminates at its upper edge on a linespaced from the rear wall 10 and preferably about midway of outletopening 20. The opening 20 is provided in the rear wall 10 adjacentthetop of the structure and this opening communicates with a conduit 22which conducts the entrapped air into the heater 24 which surrounds theexhaust manifold 27. This heater is and may be ofany conventional typeand no claim is made as to its novelty. The air within the heater isexpelled through an outlet conduit 26 into the passenger compartment29.V The rigidity of the conduit 22, which is attached to the heater, maybe suficient to .supportthe device in position adjacent the fan.However, as an additional supporting means, brackets 30 may be securedto the cylinder head 32 by one of the cylinder head bolts which is shownat .34. This bracket has one end spot-welded or otherwise secured to thetop of the device, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Brackets 31 may also besecured to the sides of the device and to a stationary part ofthevehicle. f

The deviceis positioned directly behind the fan with its open sideopposing thefan in parallel relation thereto and preferably aboutone-fourth inch 2") therefrom and in such a manner that, upon rotationofthe fan, the blade approaches the open end of the device. Preferably,the device is positioned to oppose the outer area of the blade as theseareasare the most efiective ones, and preferably with the leading edgeof the'head radial to the fan, as indicated in Fig. 4. At low speeds theair which" is thrown around with the fan willbe picked up by the deviceby virtue of its ability to trap this air. Such air as passes over thefront of the baffle will enter the conduit 22 directly as shown by thearrow :11, while such air as enters the device behind the baffie 18 willbe given an increased ve locity 'due to the restriction between the edgeof this bailie and the rear wall 10 of the device.

Such air will travel over the path a2 andwill join the air travelingover the path al. The hood like closure l4-l6 will entrap the air .whichas to lie substantially parallel to the path of water allowed to flowinto the radiator.

air as thrown from the fan at low speed. I have found in practice thatthe most effective angle for this inclined wall to obtain the greatestair flow at idling speeds orthe engine is about 15 with respect to theplane of rotation of the fan, and should not exceed 45 where a maximumflow of air is desired at low speeds. At high vehicle speed the air willapproach the bafxle more directly and the outer surface of the bafi'lewill deflect the air upwardly into the hood. At high speed less air willenter through the path (12 and more air will enter through the path (11.At low speed the reverse is true. i

In Fig. 3 the water connection between the radiator and the cylinderhead is designated at 40. This connection is provided with a valve 42operable through a rod 44. Normally, this valve 42 remains open, butupon closure of this valve when the engine is first started, prematureheating of the engine may be effected by stopping circulation of waterthrough the radiator. When this premature heated condition has beenattained the valve 42 may be opened and heated This permits a quickmeans of heating up the engine sov as to obtain a quick supply of hotair through the heater.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and12 a modified form of the invention is disclosed.In this form of the inaround with the fan, or be thrown rearwardlythrough it. 7 a

In Fig. 11 a plurality of these devices have been shown and theirrespective conduits may beunit- 1" ed intoa. single conduit forconducting aininto the heater, or if desired,- they may each beconnected'to the heater. The devices are connected together by brackets62 and they may each be-supported by brackets 64 from a staj tionarypart of the engine, orthe vehicle. Each of the devices is oriented withrespect to the fan so that; the approaching blade passes overthe bythearrows in Fig. 11.

In. the form of the device shown in Fig. 5, the air-collecting head isgenerally of arcuate shape. The device has an inner side '70 and anouter side 72, and a hood-shaped end 74. The end '16 ofthedevice isopen. A plurality of triangular-shaped bailiesEO, 82, 84, and 86 aresuspended between the two sides 70 and '72. These baffles each have aside extending generally in the direction of the back 71. The front ofthe The end 56 is provided with an The hood portion 54 acts as a trap todeflect the air which normally would travel 'open side of the devicetoward the hood as shown device is open and the various sides of thetriangular shaped members form between themselves 'a plurality ofpassageways 88, 90, 92 therebetween. One side of the triangular shapedmember 86 forms with the hood 74 a passageway 94 leading directly to theoutlet 96. The triangular shaped devices progressively have their. innerside spaced from the back 71 and increasing distance in order that airentering the passageways 88, 90, and 94 may be combined andaccommodated. As shown in Fig. '7, the end of the device comprising thehood -74 is open providing a passageway 8'7. The deviceis mounted asshown in Fig. 5 rearwardly of the fan and the air which at low speedtravels with the fan is picked up and passed through the variouspassageways to the conduit 96. At higher rates of speed the air is blownmore directly onto the baffle members 30, 82, 84 and 86 but is deflectedthrough the various passageways at an increased speed. The

conduit 96 is connected to the heater 24 in the usualmanner, and thusall the localized air is carried through the heater and into theinterior of the Each compartment unit in this form of device operatesessentially the same as in these single units previously described.

While I have shown the devices, in the accompanying drawings as eachbeing provided with a hood-like portion at the discharge end, it is notto be understood that this is essential in the broader aspects of thepresent invention, as I have found that if the end wall at the dischargeend is positioned in a plane approximately pam allel to the axisof thefan, effective results are still obtained, and which results areimpossible where such wall or corresponding portion extends away fromthe discharge opening in a ,direction opposite to the mentioned inclinedwall.

This device is decidedly inexpensive to manufacture and may be formedfrom left-over strip stock which would ordinarily be discarded, thussaving in the cost of manufacturing.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of partsshown in the accompany-' of the type which receives a supply of air fromany automobile fan, of an air-receiving member comprising asubstantially rectangularly shaped boxlike structure positioned directlybehind the automobile fan, said structure being provided with an openside of relatively great area disposed parallel to the plane of rotationof the fan and an open end of relatively small area disposedsubstantially normally to the plane of rotation of the fan and in aplane passing through the axis of rotation oi the fan.

2. The combination with an automobile heater of the type which receivesa blast of air from an automobile fan of a boxlike structure having aconduit leading therefrom to the heater, said structure having an openside and an open end, said structure being positioned directly behindthe automobile fan with said open side opposing the blade and the openend facing the oncoming blade, a battle in said boxlike structurepositioned to direct rotating air following the motion of the blades ofsaid fan into the end of the structure and to direct air flowingrearwardly from said fan into the end of said structure.

3. The combination with a heater of the type adapted to receive air froman automobile fan, of a box-like structure, a conduit leading from saidstructure, said structure being provided with an open side positioned inopposed relation to the outer ends of the fan blades and a baffle insaid structure extending from the edge of said open side remote fromsaid conduit to a point adjacent the conduit.

a. The combination with a heater of the type adapted to receive air froman automobile fan of a box-like structure, a conduit leading from saidstructure, said structure being provided with an open side positioned inopposed relation to the outer ends of the fan blades, an open endadjacent said open side, and' a bafile in said structure extending fromthe edges of said open side and end remote from said conduit to a pointadjacent the conduit.

5. 'In an automobile engine having a cooling fan and a manifold heater,of acollector head for entrapping air and passing the same to theheater, said head having a baflie therein for directing air rotatingwith the oncoming blades of said fan into the head on one side of thebafiie, and for directing air issuing rearwardly from'passing blades byscrew action of the blades into the head on the other side of thebafiie.

' 6. In an engine of a motor vehicle having a cooling fan, an aircollectorhead comprising a member having an open face positionedsubstantially parallel to the plane of rotation of said fan and in closeproximity thereto, side walls for said lnember extending rearwardlyiromsaid plane, and an inclined wall between said side walls extending fromthe front edges thereof at that end of the head most advanced againstthedirection of rotation ofsaid fanto a line rearwardly of the fan spacedfrom the front edges,the inclination and direction of said wall withrespect to the plane of rotation of said fan being approximately theinclination of the air stream from said fan at engine idling speeds, anda conduit for discharging air from said head. 7

'7. The combination with an automobile fan of a plurality of collectorheads positioned directly behind said fan, each head having a baffletherein, the inclination and direction of which is with respect to thedirection of rotation of the fan approximating the inclination anddirection of the air stream from said fan at engine idling speeds, andconduits from said heads leading to a common heating surface.

8. The combination with an automobile fan of a plurality of connectedcollector heads positioned directly behind said fan, each head havingilo' a baiile therein, the inclination and direction of which is withrespect to the direction of the air stream from said fan at engineidling speeds, and

conduits from said heads leading to a common heating surface. 7

9. In an automobile engine having a cooling fan and a heating deviceadapted to deliver heated air to the passenger compartment of theautomobile, of a collector. head connected with said device and adaptedto deliver air from said fan thereto, said headcomprising a'hollowstructure proximate to said fan and having an open I:

end opening in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of rotationof said fan and in a direction opposite to the direction of movement ofthe blades of said fan relative thereto.

10. In an automobile engine having a fan anda heater, of a box-likecollector head positioned adjacent said fan and provided with an openside and an openend toreceive both rotationally and axially directed airmoved by said fan, said head including a wall opposite said open end andinclined with respect to the plane of rotation of the fan and towardsaid open side to prevent the escape of air from saidopen side.

'11. A collector head adapted to receive air from the cooling fan of anautomobile comprising a box-like structure having an, open forward face,an open end, a hood-like portion opposite the open end, arearwardlyextending conduit adjacent the hood-like portion, a baffle disposed inthelstructure and being directed diagonally rearwardly and terminatingunder the hood in V such manneras to deflect air enteringat either theforward face or at theopen-end of the structure into the rearwardlyextending conduit.

12; A collector head for deflecting air from a cooling fan of anautomobile into a conduit leading to a heater chamber, comprising anapproximately arcuate box-like structure adapted to 'be disposed in aplane parallel to the fan and adjacent to the "outer ends of the bladesthereof and having an open forward face and a series of radiallyarrangedbafiles disposed in the structure and terminating forwardly ofthe rear wall of the structure.

13. A collector head for receiving air from the cooling fan of anautomobile and supplying the air to a heater, comprising a casing havinga wedge like cavity formed in the forward face thereof and disposed witha broad open side thereof approximately parallel to the planeof the fanand with the edge of rthewedgepresented approxirnately to the blast ofair whirling with the fan; the rear wall of the cavity being inclinedrearwardly and adapted to intercept the axial flow of air and direct'itrearwardly into a conduit leadingto the heater, a transverseibafiledisposed across the cavity to intercept the flow of air moving parallelwith the plane of the fan and along the rear wall of the cavity, thetransverse wall being disposed upon the side of the conduit opposite tothe rear wall to prevent the air from passing over the mouth of theconduit.

14. In an engine of a motor vehicle having a cooling fan, an aircollector head comprising a member having an open face positionedapproximately parallel to the plane of rotation of said fan and in closeproximity thereto, an inclined rear wall portion for said memberextending from the 'front edges thereof at that end of the head mostadvanced against the direction of rotation of said fan to a linedisposed rearwardly' of the fan and spaced rearwardly of said frontedges, side wall portions connecting said front edges and said rear wallportion, a top wall portion, the inclination and direction of said rearwall portion with respect to the plane of rotation of said fan beingapproximately the inclination of the air stream from said fan at engineidling speeds, and' a conduit for discharging air from said head, theinclination and position of said top wall portion being such as toco-operate with air carried along said rear wall portion to direct saidair into said conduit.

FRED B. HANCHETT, JR.

